North Carolina submits second round of HSR applications

Written by jrood

North Carolina Gov. Bev Perdue said that the state submitted the second round of high-speed rail applications for competitive funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. North Carolina is applying for funds totaling more than $5 billion for four projects to help further develop the federally designated Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor.

"These projects are
critical for communities throughout our state," Perdue said.  "North
Carolina’s commitment to rail puts us in strong contention for these funds."

These four projects will
increase service frequency and reliability, reduce travel times and improve
safety by adding double track, passing sidings and constructing bridges that
separate the highway from rail. These track improvements would lay the
foundation to deploy trains at top speeds of 90-110 miles per hour on the
nearly 500-mile long corridor between Charlotte and Washington, D.C.

The state partnered with
Virginia to complete a corridor development plan connecting Charlotte,
Greensboro and Raleigh, N.C., with Richmond, Va., and Washington, D.C., to
provide frequent, reliable passenger trains that can travel at top speeds of 90-110
mph. The N.C. Department of Transportation worked with the North Carolina Railroad
Company, Norfolk Southern, CSX Transportation and Amtrak to complete the
applications.

The merit-based funding
will be awarded in early 2010. According to the White House Council of Economic
Advisors, if funded, construction and operation of SEHSR will help retain or
create an estimated 60,000 jobs over a seven-year period.

On September 1,Gov.
Perdue announced that NCDOT submitted applications for six "ready to
go" projects. Those applications totaled more than $75.9 million dollars
and included a commitment of more than $16 million in matching funds. Awards
will be made before the end of this year.

ARRA will provide $8
billion in competitive funding for high-speed rail corridors across the
country. Congress will vote later this year on additional appropriations to
continue development of the high-speed rail program. North Carolina’s
Congressional delegation wrote USDOT Secretary Ray LaHood endorsing the
development of SEHSR and requesting the agency issue a Letter of Intent to
complete the project.

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